By-laws pertaining to animals

There are a few licences and by-laws which pertain to animals in the City of Guelph. The Guelph Humane Society is under contract by the City of Guelph to enforce the Animal Control by-law, and the Exotic Animals by-law. The Stoop & Scoop by-law is enforced on a complaint basis, please contact Bylaw Compliance at 519-837-2529 or bylaw@guelph.ca.

Animal Control

The Animal Control By-law provides for the licensing and regulating of dogs and for prohibiting or regulating the running at large of dogs in the City.

Stoop-and-Scoop

The Stoop-and-Scoop By-law provides for the removal and sanitary disposition of excrement for any animal. With some exceptions, this by-law applies to any person who owns, harbours, possesses or is in control of any animal.

Kennels

Licences (Dog, Kennel)

Licences are required for all dogs over 3 months old. A licence is also required to operate a kennel. Please visit the Guelph Humane Society website or contact them at 519-824-3091.

Bill 132: The Public Safety Related to Dogs Statute Law Amendment Act: What it means for dog owners

On August 29, 2005 Bill 132 – An Act to amend the Dog Owner’s Liability Act (DOLA) to increase public safety in relation to dogs, including pit bulls, came into force.

The amended DOLA introduced broader enforcement powers and tougher penalties to deal with owners of dangerous dogs and banned, with some exceptions, ownership of purebred and mixed-breed dogs referred to as “pit bulls.”

Under this Act, no person in Ontario can:

own a pit bull unless it is deemed to be a “restricted” pit bull;

breed a pit bull;

transfer ownership of a pit bull by gift, sale or otherwise unless it is deemed to be a “restricted” pit bull;

abandon a pit bull other than to a pound;

allow a pit bull to stray;

import a pit bull into Ontario; or

train a pit bull for fighting.

Pit bulls owned by residents on August 29, 2005 – the day the amendment came into effect – and pit bulls born before November 28, 2005 are deemed to be “restricted” pit bulls.

Ontario residents are permitted to own a restricted pit bull as long as they comply with the requirements.Regulation 157/05 made under the DOLA imposes restrictions on restricted pit bulls and their owners.

As of October 28, 2005, restricted pit bulls must be:

securely maintained on the owners’ property;

leashed and muzzled when outside the owners’ enclosed property;

under the control of the owner and on a leash of not more than 1.8 metres in length; and

sterilized.

Action can be taken against an owner where it is alleged that:

a dog has bitten or attacked a person or domestic animal;

a dog has behaved in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals;

an owner did not exercise reasonable precautions to prevent a dog from biting, attacking, or behaving in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of a person or domestic animal; and/or

any other provision of the DOLA or its regulation has been violated.

Pit bull owners guilty of an offence under the DOLA can face a fine and/or have their dog impounded or destroyed.

Pit bulls are not exempted from the provisions of DOLA and Regulation 157/05 in leash-free parks. Pit bulls must be leashed, muzzled and under the control of their guardians in leash-free parks.

For more information about the amendments to the DOLA visit e-laws.gov.on.ca or contact the City of Guelph at 519-837-5628 or the Guelph Humane Society at 519-824-3091.

The Property Standards By-law requires every building and accessory building be kept free of rodents, vermin and insects. Every yard shall be kept free of rodents and vermin. Every opening in a building, including any openable window, that might permit the entry of rodents, vermin and insects, shall be screened or sealed.

We do not have regulations to address concerns regarding insects outside the dwelling. Property Standards By-law (2000)-16454 requires every building and accessory building be kept free of rodents, vermin and insects. Every opening in a building, including any openable window that might permit the entry of rodents, vermin and insects, shall be screened or sealed.